Fallen Empire: Discovery and Flight (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Choi and Watson Book 2) by Matthew Quinn

Author:Matthew Quinn [Quinn, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2017-10-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Tammy continued accelerating, the engines straining perilously close toward the red lines. If the Alliance fighters couldn't break contact, they were dog meat. E-cannon fire continued pouring from the cruisers. Behind her and to the left, another Alliance Striker disintegrated beneath a storm of killing energies.

"Wills!" she called out. "A little help here!"

There was no answer for a long moment. Tammy whispered a prayer to the Suns Trinity. First Heller, then the CAG? They didn't need to be leaderless, not now.

"Raptor Two, this is Swordfish One," Brad's voice boomed in the cockpit. Tammy felt the weight of a ship-killing torpedo lifting off her shoulders. She'd been too busy to worry most of the fight, but was glad Brad was still alive. "Captain Wills' Striker is disabled. I'm not sure who is in command now, but I've got Swordfish Three and Swordfish Four with me." A smile crept into his voice. "Need a little help?"

"Oh do we!" Tammy swallowed. Wouldn't Brad and his wingmen be in the same position? "Have you broken contact?"

"Yes we have." His voice darkened. "But it cost us. We can still get you guys out."

Ahead of the retreating Raptor and Dragon squadrons, a pair of Strikers and one fleet runner flipped back toward the oncoming Imperials. Their drives flared behind them as they rocketed back toward their fleeing allies. Torpedoes leaped away, streaking toward the remaining trio of oncoming Imperial capital ships like blue-white spears. The storm of red and orange consuming the fleeing Strikers reoriented to devour the incoming ordinance. Torpedoes pirouetted through the electric rage like the system's most skilled ballet dancers, but one by one the torpedoes fell to the Imperial flak. The final torpedo bloomed against the Kir's Fall's shields. Tammy drew a breath. Would that...?

No it wouldn't. When the blue-white fire dissipated she could just barely make out a spiderweb of cracks all along the battlecruiser's armored prow. No gas leaks. No major dents. No significant damage. Shit.

Tammy looked to her console. The latest Alliance attack hadn't done much to the enemy, but it had slowed them down. Bit by frustrating bit, the gap between the fleeing Alliance fighters and the oncoming Imperial heavies grew. Whew. If they could break contact, they could rearm with what few torpedoes remained at the asteroid base and then support the remaining bastions against them. Make them pay for every rock in their path and hopefully bleed them into retreating if not destroy them outright.

The Imperial capital ships continued on. Tammy kept her eyes locked on her LIDAR display. A scowl curdled her face. "They're starting to gain on us," she warned Geun.

"I know." Frustration had begun to seep through Geun's usual calm. "They must be red-lining their engines. Risking engine failure to catch a few fighters?"

"They must be really pissed about the Achilles and Sarpedon."

Wills' voice broke onto the circuit. "All remaining fighters, I want you on this course." A series of coordinates appeared on Tammy's display. "Let them pursue you."

Tammy looked at the vector the CAG had provided.

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